Here you go Lahia....

Boy's Name: Jesse James
Girl's Name: Jennifer Joan
Occupation: Judge
Color: Jade Green
Something you wear: Jewelry
Beverage: Jamba Juice
Food: Jam
Something Found in Bathroom: Jergen's Soap
A Place: Jerusalem
Reason for Being Late: Jury Duty
Something you Shout: Jump!

Important Announcement!

Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 7:00pm we will have the 1st Annual Ellingson/Barkley Family Christmas Skits. (Remember the Nutcracker? Along that line guys.) Each family is encouraged (please read, expected, or maybe even ordered,) to come up with a family skit. Everyone that wants can come up with their own as well. For clarification, Jason, Lahia, and Jaxon are one family unit. Jer, Stef, Kohen, and Jonas are one family unit. Julie, Jeff, Mette, and I are another family unit. And any other combination can be put together, after the initial skits have been completed. Remember, we are looking for quality here - top the nutcracker - no average, middle of the road stuff now - serious effort has to be put into this. The proud sponsor is seriously putting up a $150.00 prize to the top skit. This is real!

5 New Updates - That should keep many of you happy for a while.

Snow is here!

Here's what was waiting for Julie and I when we got to work this morning. There was just a little skiff of snow on the cars in Fairfield and no snow at all on the ground. But at about Bellevue, we started seeing snow and everything was covered when we got here. Winter is here and the cold is on it's way.

Here are the trees outside the front door of our office. Notice the leaves have not fallen completely off. Fall came late and then winter decided to not follow suit and just dumped snow while the rest of us were not ready yet.

Halloween, 08 Murder Mystery!

I stole many of Stef's pictures as mine didn't come out very clear.)

Here's the entire cast (Top Left:) Stef, Laurie (behind Stef,) Stephanie, Mike, Jer, Jeff, Mark, Doug, Jason (I love how somber and serious he is - reminds me of the old photos taken of the real west.) (Front Row, seated:) Lahia, Angela Kay, Dana, Connie, Julie, and Sally.

Jeff (ala J.T. Stroder,) played a deputy dying to have athority and dying to be in charge. He was rather dim-witted (which he did incredibly well - so well, in fact, that Stef felt the need during the play to let everyone know that he wasn't really that dumb, he was playing a part,) but honest character. At times, Jeff stole the show.
This is me - I played a washed-up, semi-lunatic, "genuine Civil-War hero!! I mean, I was a decorated hero and a Founding Father of the town of Catcus Gulch." That is, until my property was stolen for nickels on the dollar by that no-good theif of a railroad representative and his tramp of a wife.
Julie played a local Indian drunk who owned a trading post. (A little side note here - I am daily amazed at how beautiful my wife is.) She spent hours and hours on this costume. It was detailed, intricate, and beautiful. She won best costume for this. (Spoiler alert - never share a flask of cactus juice with her.)

Jason was the semi-honest (just don't play him cards, sheriff trying to solve this complicated murder. His costume called for a duster overcoat, a cummerbund, a vest, and thena shirt (followed by his garments,) he was about to melt on us. He beat us all at cards and sorted the details out great.

Lahia played a "Good-Time Girl" at the local casino. She grew up not quite acepted by the white community and not accepted by the indian community. Her plight as an outcast made her desperate, so she took measures into her own hands to secure her own survival.
Stef was the owner of the bar we were standing and drinking in and the narator, (as well as the wutho of this year's mystery.) She did an incredible job pulling all the peices together and making it all fit.
Jeremiah was a traveling Preacher/Bible Salesman (or was he?) He won this years best actor. This part was writen for him. Should he ever decide to become a criminal - he would make a great conman.
Mark and Dana (along with Mike) were easily the most sleezy, underhanded characters int he mystery, and they played their parts great. Mark was smooth and oily - it would be easy to believe he would steal a man's property (for nickel's ont he dollar mind you,) Dana was great. She has had three years worth of underhanded, despicable characters and she has nailed each one. Is there a pattern here? Maybe we should look into this.
Stephanie was a barmaid and helper to the bar's owner. She played the part well and added fun to the overall mystery.
Angela Kay was "just passin' through town," but she was certainly involved in everyones business for a stranger to town and she just happened to be in the middle of everything. Coincidence or not?
A lady of breeding and quality stuck, due to the unfortunate murder of her late husband, inthis little backward town. She would love to bring class and dignity to the town, but the citizens just won't let her. She morns the loss of her husband, but enjoys the money he left her. she woiuld love to find out who killed her husband, but she witht he meager clues she has gathered, she is no closer today then when he died.

Sally is the town florist and gosip. She did a great job of spreading rumors and droppig inuendos. She is a true belle stuck in this dirty little town.

Mike was the infamous gun-slinger lawman "Doc" Holliday. This was MIke's first year with us. He was spectacular. As stated above, he played the part of the oily, sleezy gun-slinger fabulously. (Hint: Next years part is nothing like this one - however, it should be fun.)
Laurie played last year with us. Her personality is just so fun that she makes the entire mystery fun to be a part of. She was the daughter of the deceased and was bound and determined to save her inheritance as well as not jeopardize her engagement to the infamous "Doc" Holliday. One thing was certain, she had no patience for her poor uncle that was shorted by that deceptive, conniving railroad man.

The Camas County High School Senior Class has 13 students. I have never been associated with a school this small. The Junior class is even smaller and the Sophomore class is even smaller still.

Volleyball Team Went to State.

Julie and I were casual fans last year of the girl’s volleyball team here at Camas County High School. We attended most of the home games. This year, with Mette on the team and having gotten to know all of the girls on a much more personal level, we only missed 3 of their 24 games. The girls had an incredible year. Last year, they took last place in their District, winning only two games. They got a new coach this year and worked very hard all year long. They ended up taking 2nd in their district and going to State for the first time since 2000. It was an especially fun year to be a part of. Now we look forward to basketball season. These girls learned that they can be winners – we’ll see if this translates into the basketball season. (By the way, Julie is going to be the Stat keeper for the girls so she gets to travel to every game this year.)

Football Season is Over!

Camas County High School had a fairly poor season. They won two games and lost seven. That’s two games more than they won last year. I think next year they have the potential for breaking .500 – we’ll see next year.

On a more positive note, Jeff did have a fairly good season, despite not really having any blocking up front for him. He rushed for 1,269 yards and 14 touchdowns. That made him the #1 running back for yardage in the State (1A Division II) and the #2 in the State for all divisions and classifications. He averaged 7.21 yards per carry. With Camas placing tied for last in their league, there is a pretty slim chance that he will have any league honors, even though he lead the league in yards. (This is why I do not like voting on All-League and All-State Honors, there is too much personal conjecture involved and politics. In track, on the day of the District Meet, if you beat everyone else, you are the league champion. No one votes, you prove it yourself.)

We are a little bit worried as it appears there are no offensive linemen returning to block up front – it might be a very tough year for Jeff coming out of the backfield.